How big is a dassie rat?
5.5 to 8.3 inches
dassie rat, (Petromus typicus), a medium-sized rodent adapted to life among rocky outcrops in the desert hills and plateaus of southwestern Africa. The dassie rat weighs 170 to 300 grams (6 to 11 ounces) and has a squirrel-like body 14 to 21 cm (5.5 to 8.3 inches) long; its hairy tail is 12 to 17 cm long.
Is a dassie a rodent?
The dassie rat (Petromus typicus) is an African rodent found among rocky outcroppings. It is the only living member of its genus, Petromus, and family, Petromuridae. The name “dassie” means “hyrax” in Afrikaans, and the two animals are found in similar habitats.
Are Dassies vermin?
These are rock hyraxes (Procavia capensis)—known in Southern Africa as dassies—and despite being completely herbivorous, they were classified as vermin in Namibia under apartheid.
Do Dassies burrow?
Although Dassies generally do not dig, their padded feet have glands that produce a secretion which keeps their feet permanently moist. This helps them to climb up trees, branches and steep rocks making it very easy for them to climb over fences and use trees to enter people’s gardens.
How long does a dassie live?
10 years
They can live for up to 10 years in the wild. Dassies can be found through most of southeast Africa and the Middle East on rocky outcrops and cliffs.
Do dassies carry rabies?
The most common source of rabies in humans in South Africa are dogs, mongooses, cats, jackals, cattle and goats. Mice and rats, squirrels, dassies, baboons and monkeys fall into the “unlikely risk” category, while birds and reptiles are considered no risk at all.
Can you eat a dassie?
Dassies are eaten by people in much of Africa but this is not well documented. Hyraceum is the fossilised urine and faeces of dassies; it can be seen on rock cliffs and caves where it has built up over hundreds or even thousands of years by large dassie colonies to form a hard, black substance.
What do dassies look like?
Dassies are generally small (up to 550 mm long and 4.5 kg in weight), with a robust body but no tail. The rough coat is brownish-grey with lighter patches above the eyes and a patch of long, black hairs in the centre of the back.
Do dassies eat snakes?
The big picture. Dassies provide a food source for many predators, including Black Eagles, leopards, snakes, wild dogs and caracal.